Maharashtra Govt. seeks license for cable operators

With an aim to ensure effective action against illegal screening of feature films on cable networks, the Maharashtra Government has decided to approach the Centre to empower it to license cable operators in the state.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of a delegation of distributors and exhibitors with revenue Minister Ashok Chavan last week. The delegation demanded that the government taken stringent measures to curb video and cable piracy. Chavan told the delegation that his ministry was concerned at the loss of revenue due to the falling attendance in cinema halls.
When contacted, the minister said that the Cable Act came under the jurisdiction of the Centre and the implementation has to be done by the State Governments. "However, the State Government is finding it difficult to enforce the Act. Effective action against the cable operators can be taken only if the power to license and de-license was provided in the legislation. For this, the Central Government has to be approached to amend rules in the Cable Act", Chavan explained.

Besides this, he said that the delegation also suggested that the cable operators should give receipts for each connection provided by them. "This would help the government to know the exact number of cable operators for levying of entertainment tax."

The minister also told the delegation that an advisory committee consisting of officials from the Home, Revenue and Law ministries, representatives of producers, distributors, exhibitors has been set up to monitor the screening of films. At the district level, only a revenue official and a local exhibitor will be on the committee to find out whether the cable operators are showing films illegally.

The state advisory committee would meet every month to review the latest position and take stock of what action has been taken. The control rooms under the police jurisdiction would also monitor which cable operator was telecasting films illegally.

UNI

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